Thursday Thingeys

W7 Follow-Up

In a sudden outburst of uncharacteristic energy, fbb wondered how the "W" network at Wood Green had changed since the cunning plan of 1968. We do know that a further phase of the scheme brought the former service 212 into the "W" plan as W7, this in 1969, a while after the pioneering/disastrous scheme began.

So, without the help of a safety net but with the on-line services of Mike Harris (King of London Bus Maps) and Ian Armstrong (King of London bus route history), your indefatigable blogger has drawn a couple of maps.

The first shows the W network as introduced in 1968.

Our friendly 212, precursor to the W7 still runs as before, but the 212 Express journeys are now covered by the W2 which, on Mondays to Fridays only, was extended from Alexandra Park to Finsbury Park, limited stop. 

On other days the W2 ran from Turnpike Lane to Alexandra Park only. Surely this was a candidate for the shortest EVER "straight line" London bus route at just 7 minutes.

In 1984 the W2 ceased to run at all in the evenings, but during the day was extended northwards to Enfield. So the W2 continued to augment the W7 between Alexandra Park at Finsbury Park.

Back to 1968 and more confusion.

The W3 ran from Finsbury Park via Alexandra Palace and Wood Green, terminating at Northumberland Park Victoria Line station - BUT on Mondays to Fridays only.

On Saturdays only, the section from Finsbury Park to Wood Green became a W5 and it then scuttled down the main road to Turnpike Lane. Likewise, on Saturdays only, the W3 became a W6 between Northumberland Park and Turnpike Lane. At least that was what was proposed.

Ian Armstrong does log the Saturday W6 ...

... but not the Saturday W5.

Confusion all round, surely?

The Wood Green network was a right mess!

Looking back, it seems that the revolutionary assemblage of W routes was cleverly designed by someone who never travelled by bus. Different numbers on different days are hardly likely to endear Joe Public to a new set of routes, even if the idea was good. But it wasn't and it didn't.

Then fbb looked at what is there now. We know that the W7 still runs, BUT ...

W1 and W2 have gone; the W4 and W5 are unrecognisable and totally different from their 1968 compatriots; only the W3 remains unchanged in route from the original cunning 1968 plan.

The W5 now starts from near Archway Underground Station and crosses over ...

... the Archway itself, now heavily protected against suicide attempts and vandals' throwing stuff down below.

After wiggling through Crouch Hill, the W5 serves both Harringay and Harringay Green Lanes stations, terminating near Sainsburys.

The most telling part of the W4 route is the (in)famous Broadwater Farm Estate. Known, sadly, for the riots of 1985 and for its unwelcoming architecture, life in the concrete jungle is now much more settled.

In the east, the W4 terminates at Ferry Lane Estate. Here it has its own bespoke little turning circle ...

... in amongst more tower blocks.

The Ferry Boat Inn (on Ferry Lane itself) confirms the reason for the road name ...

... but nothing on-line seems to refer to the ferry directly.  Maybe the boats on this painting of Tottenham Mills were those used to ferry folk across the River Lea?

In the north, the W4 does not quite reach the former W1 terminus at Edmonton "The Cambridge". It's a pub, innit? 

The W4 turns short of the former terminus at a very uninspiring layby on a service road ...

... that runs alongside the North Circular mega highway. And the Cambridge?

Long gone, sadly. Now there is a giant roundabout.

Stagecoach Sale (Mark 2)

The Guardian gives us some numbers.

The British bus operator Stagecoach has dropped its support for a £1.9bn merger with National Express, instead agreeing to be taken over by a big German infrastructure fund in a £595m deal.

It never was a merger, despite the fine words in press release documents. National Express intended to take over Stagecoach, lock, stock and exhaust pipe barrel.

In a sudden U-turn, Stagecoach said it was recommending a sale to the fund managed by DWS Infrastructure for 105p a share in cash, and has withdrawn support for the National Express bid.

Observant readers will wonder how it can be that Stagecoach thinks at deal at 595 million smackers is BETTER than a deal at 1.9 billion ditto. But who are we humble mortals to understand the dark arts of the Corporate world?

Suffice ot to say that Stagecoach has summarily dumped National Express in favour of DWS - which used to be part of the global giant Deutsche Bank but is not a separate "entity".

fbb has sought an explanation fron an accountancy trained chum - and awaits a reply.

Stagecoach Fail

Uncle Brian's company (as was, now very much "hands off") did not like the idea of "London-Style Franchising" in Manchester; so called for a judicial review. This is an expensive way of trying to get Mayor Andy Burnham's pet scheme scuppered.

A judge has ruled a decision to bring Greater Manchester's bus network back under public control was lawful.

Mayor Andy Burnham approved the plans, where operators bid to run services on a franchise basis, in March 2021.

Greater Manchester will be the first area outside London to have a regulated bus system since the 1980s.

Operators Stagecoach and Rotala, who both sought a judicial review, said they were "disappointed" but would work with the authority.

The franchise model is estimated to cost around £135m and was backed by nine of the region's 10 councils.

It means fares, timetables and routes will be set by local authorities instead of private companies, but operators may continue running services under a franchise system, but under contract to the Local Authority..

Operators Stagecoach and Rotala opposed the bid for a franchise network.

There will be tears before bedtime in Manchester, for certain, because franchising is going to cost huge amounts of money and NOBODY, not even Mayor Burnham, has any idea who will foot the bill.

Good On Yer, Newport Transport

Well done! Any more with a similar idea?

Today's intended blog will now appear tomorrow.

 Next First fares blog : Thursday 11th March